Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 3: The Heritage Foundation here today organized a webinar on ‘Mubarak Mandi: Imperial House of the Dogras’ wherein speakers from different walks of life participated.
Kirpal Singh, Project Coordinator, The Heritage Foundation, said: “The Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex is no ordinary. Its construction started in 1710, and continued for 200 years.”
Ajay Khajuria, former Director Tourism Jammu, Founding Member-Secretary (ex-officio)/Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society said, “Mubarak Mandi defines the Dogra identity – warriors, strategists, progressive, having great taste in arts and architecture and that is why, the heritage complex didn’t happen in a day, rather the Dogras made it happen. It should be developed as cultural tourism centre.”
Lalit Gupta, Art Historian, said, “The palace complex has suffered at the hands of Kashmir centric dispensation. It has been used as a photo-op by political leaders and bureaucrats. Conservation process started on wrong foot almost 50 years ago, parking space was to be created 20 years ago. What we see today is that few buildings have further decayed, and locals have lost confidence. Having an autonomous conservation wing would help.”
Poonam Chaudhary, Director, Centre for Studies in Museology, University of Jammu, said, “Mubarak Mandi is essentially a city center, linked with nearby bazaars, localities, which should be developed as such. She urged the concerned for starting virtual tours and establishing virtual museums, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Arvind Kotwal, former CEO Surinsar Mansar Development Authority, former Dy Director Tourism Jammu, said, “Jammu has not had a signature event of its own, and no place is better than Mubarak Mandi for it. We can organise various events in the complex space but with regularity. One of them can be based on pahadi culture and music.”
Sunny Dua, Columnist opined, “Panjtirthi to Mubarak Mandi stretch, having six temples and 10 historical buildings, can be developed as Heritage Street.”
Deepika K Sharma, Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society asserted, “There have been administrative hassles, but at least six projects under the plan are being realized within their time duration of two years. We are seeking more funds to initiate more projects as well as adaptive reuse of the restored buildings.”
The session was moderated by Pratik Savale, from The Himalayan Institute of Archaeology and Allied Sciences, Ladakh.
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